Kokomos u16s Feel The Heat
The under 16s from the QLD PNG Kokomos & QLD Niue kicked off their trial match at 12:3o on a hot and dry, 30 degree, Gold Coast Saturday and the game looked to be as hot as the ambient temperature. It was agreed by both teams that instead of playing a match of two halves that they switch to 4 x 15 minute quarters so the players could stay hydrated in the heat.
After playing the National Anthems for the visiting Niue team and for PNG, the spectators were treated to the Niue equivalent of the Haka. The cultural element being a key feature of the Queensland Pacific Island Cultural Carnival (QPICC) tradition.
Niue opened the encounter with a deft try by Frazier Ginn. They failed to add the extras. The score Nuie 4 – PNG 0.
Jayden Sharp busted through the Nuie defence, the big 40m run setting up a second play with a break by Joshua Paiyo and quick pass by Ben Kay which resulted in a try by PNG’s Cruise Ten. Jarone Clunn added another two points to give PNG the lead 6 – 4
PNG kept the pressure on with a pinpoint kick from Cruise Ten from the centre of the field 20 metres out and into the corner. The try was beautifully caught and Ashley Faulkner scored for PNG. Jarone Clunn missed the kick. PNG extended their lead 10 -4 over Niue.
Just before the end of the first quarter Niue scored another converted try. They went into the break at the end of the first quarter at 10 all.
PNG’s, Jayden Sharp, bustled over the line, in the opening minutes of the second quarter but the referee disallowed it claiming he dropped the ball over the line.
Cruise Ten put through another beautiful kick which saw George Hill score. Clunn failed to convert. PNG 14 – Niue 10.
This was followed by another PNG try. This time it was Jarone Clunn who also converted his own try. This put PNG into a 10 point lead. PNG 20 – Niue 10.
Niue’s Vana Finau, scored off a break by Nuie’s flyer, Tesi Niu who passed it to Finau to score. Unfortunately, they were unable to convert.
The Half Time Score: PNG 20 – Niue 14.
They say many games are won or lost in the third quarter and this game is was no different. Niue lifted a gear, and began to pressure the PNG defence. After a couple of failed attempts early in the third, Niue scored courtesy of Tesi Niu. The converted try made it 20 all. It was anyone’s game.
The unrelenting heat and niggling injuries were beginning to take its toll on the PNG boys and Nuie capitalised on it by scoring a converted try leading into the final quarter. The score Niue 26 – PNG 20.
Unfortunately the PNG boys were unable pull it together sufficiently to withstand the sustained pressure from the Nuie boys, who scored three quick tries in succession. The final score Niue 42 – PNG 20.
The Kokomos boys looked the goods early in the game and really had it in them to win. The heat became a factor for both teams late in the game and it really could have gone either way.
- Published in Match Report, News, Under 16
Kokomos Women Show The Way
The countdown to the 2017 QPICC Carnival has begun. In preparation for their campaign to secure their QPICC titles the Kokomos u16 boys and Women’s teams played trial matches against QPICC newcomers, QLD Niue. The trial match was conducted in scorching heat at Bill Norris Oval in Beenleigh on Saturday, 30th September, 2017
The Women’s team had a mix of players returning from last year’s inaugural team and new players of varying experience. What our girls gave away in height and weight was certainly made up for in passion, heart and determination.
The opening try came from Esme Hiri who made a break from forty metres out. A neat step had the Niue girls beaten and Hiri looked to put the ball down under the post but unselfishly passed the ball to team mate, Shentia Chow, who scored the try.
Hiri kicked the two points to put the Kokomos in front 6-0.
The Niue girls made it clear that this was going to be a real contest by hitting back minutes later with a try by Sianequa Knight but missed the kick. At the end of the first quarter the PNG girls were in front 6-4.
A minute into the second half and Esme Hiri extended the Kokomos lead with an individual runaway try and successful conversion. This allowed the PNG to extend their lead to 12-4.
Sianequa Knight went over for her second try of the day just before half time adding another four points to their tally. The PNG girls went into the half time break with a four point lead over their Niue counterparts. The score PNG 12 – Niue 8.
The newcomers were keen to secure their first victory in the first game and came into the third quarter running hard and fast and looked to add another try to their tally when Niue’s Salaima Frost unfortunately dislocated her knee and was taken from the field.
The PNG women maintained their momentum and Emma Fuller scored out on the wing. Hiri’s kick was unsuccessful. PNG’s lead was now 16 to Niue’s 8.
Niue refused to concede defeat and doubled-down on their efforts. They consistently pressured the PNG defensive line and were rewarded for their efforts with at try but failed to convert. The score PNG 16 – Niue 12.
With success in their sights the Niue girls continued to probe the Kokomos defensive line looking for a gap. The crowd were on their feet cheering in the last stanza as the PNG girls, many whom were playing for the Kokomos for the first time, dug deep, pulled together and repelled the continued attack from Niue.
The PNG Kokomos Women’s team were rewarded for their incredible defensive efforts with a 16-12 win over Niue.
Their first outing for the 2017 looks very promising. It will be interesting to see how the Women’s team progresses over the next month as they work with Senior Coach, Ricky Pon.
- Published in Match Report, News, Womens
Trial Matches This Weekend vs Nuie
Owan Titans Say ‘Thank You’
You can’t beat the PNG attitude of ‘it takes a village’ and that applies both in PNG and amongst the PNG Rugby League families in Australia.
The Inaugural Kokomos Nines Champions (2014), Owan Titans, made the trip down from Goroka in an attempt to reclaim their title and were hosted by brothers Andrew, Jimmy and Charlie Maino and Freda.
The Titans boys were especially impressed with Andrew’s wife, Tina’s divine chicken curry!
They would also like to thank Chris Rehder for helping them out on the day.
Kokomos President, Tom Adamson, said it was a pleasure having the boys here and I sincerely hope that they make the trip back next year.
“They are a great bunch of boys and good work by organiser, Martin Joffey, in getting them down here,” said Adamson.
Martin is also the National Mens Touch Football coach for PNG. He and the rest of the Owan Titans boys return to PNG today.
- Published in News
Tom Adamson Awarded Volunteer of the Year
On Friday night, Brisbane Second Division nominees, along with family, friends, sponsors and guests, gathered at Souths Sporting Club, Acacia Ridge for the 36th Awards Presentation night.
Among the Awards presented was the 2017 Volunteer of the Second Division 2017 Player of the Year Award. It was presented to someone all Kokomos fans would be very familiar with, Kokomos President, Tom Adamson, this time for the Logan Wanderers, won the 2017 Volunteer of the Year award.
It is fantastic Uncle Tom (as he is better known) has had his endless enthusiasm, drive and commitment to the game acknowledged and rewarded. Among his many, many achievements are founding, establishing the Logan Wanderers and QLD PNG Rugby League.
Congratulations Tom on being Named 2017 Volunteer of the Year!
- Published in News
Hunters score Maiden Intrust Cup Premiership
Second half here we go!
- Published in Event, PNG Hunters
Logan Central Crowned Kings of the 2017 Kokomos Nines
23rd September, 2017 – Brisbane
The 2017 Kokomos Nines Carnival promised much – and more than delivered.
With ten teams, including the inaugural winners, Owan Titans, previous champions CDMC and the visiting Port Moresby Vipers all vying for the right to call themselves 2017 Kokomos Nines Champions and the $5,000 ($AUD) in cold, hard cash for winning the tournament.
Logan Central advanced to the finals having beaten out the Mek Brothers, essentially a development team featuring up and coming Australian-based PNG rugby league talent. The young team, coached by Kokomos U18s Coach, Lee Sharp, surprised everyone by reaching the Semi Finals. Including beating the X-P-R-L Rams in the quarter finals. The Rams feature Intrust Super Cup players such as Kumul, Richie Pandia, and his brother Sebastian, who star in the Ipswich Jets team, as well as ex-Kumul hooker Benjii Johns.
CDMC had earned their place in the final by defeating the visiting Port Moresby Vipers team in a tight, try-for-try battle. CDMC had ex-Kumuls Steve Franciscus, Tommy Butterfield and Trevor Exton. That experience helped CDMC edge the Vipers out of their place in the final clash. The Semi-Final Match was a 24-18 win to CDMC.
Classy Logan Central, beat out the more experienced CDMC in the annual Kokomos Nines Carnival hosted by QLD PNG Rugby League. The event is designed to showcase and develop talented Rugby League talent and as act as a selection mechanism for QLD PNG Men’s Open team who will compete against other island nation’s in the upcoming Queensland Pacific Island Cultural Carnival (QPICC).
The final promised to be an absolute cracker, especially as the two teams had met in a pool match earlier in the day and the result was a 16 all draw.
And what a game! CDMC kicked off and Logan Central opened the encounter with an Anthony Seeto try off a superbly placed kick from LJ Waddups. From that point on the crowd were treated to a tit-for-tat try-fest between Logan and the previous championship winners. Logan was able to withstand the sustained pressure from a determined CDMC side to win the Final 32-28.
David Joseph, who plays for the Port Moresby Vipers, was voted as the tournament’s Best and Fairest by the referees.
Head Selector and Head Coach of the QPICC Men’s Open team, Elias Paiyo, said the announcement of the Men’s Open QPICC team will be made soon. He said his job as Head Selector is getting more difficult every year, especially with the emerging talent coming through, but believes that is a nice problem to have.
“What we are trying to do is develop PNG Rugby League talent and in turn that provides player depth. I have been very happy with what I have seen this weekend.”
For all the results: 2017 PNG KOKOMOS 9s Results
2017 Kokomos 9s Carnival Results
- Published in Match Report, News, Nines
Kokomos Nines Carnival Draw Out Now!
Check out the draw for the 2017 Kokomos Nines Carnival to be held the 23rd September, 2017 at Bill Norris Oval, Beenleigh.
We have ten Men’s Opens teams vying for an $8,000 (AUD) prize pool and the right to be called 2017 Kokomos Nines Champions.
This Nines Carnival has grown from a means to showcase PNG Rugby League talent in order to select players to represent QLD PNG at the annual QPICC Carnival, to a full-blown carnival in its own right.
Don’t miss the hard, fast and flamboyant rugby league nines action this weekend!
Fast and Furious Kokomos Nines Action This Weekend
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